Parisha Vadyam
A precursor to Panchavadyam, performed in Kerala temple rituals.
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Parisha Vadyam is a percussion tradition that began centuries ago in Ramamangalam, before Panchavadyam became common. It is sometimes called the mother of Panchavadyam. Like other melams, it follows a pyramid-shaped rhythmic structure. It was played in southern and central Kerala during the installation and anointing of the Bramhakalasa, but Panchavadyam later took its place.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Ramamangalam
- Region
- Southern and central Kerala
- Main instruments
- Thimila
- Achan Chenda (Veekkan Chenda)
- Ilathalam
- Accompanying instruments
- Kombu, Idakka
- First stage tala
- Ekataala (Ottakkol and Irikida)
- Second stage tala
- Triputa taala (Chendakkooru)
Facts from the source article.
Background
Parisha Vadyam is performed using the Thimila, Achan Chenda (also called Veekkan Chenda), and Ilathalam, with the Kombu and Idakka as accompanying wind instruments. Unlike some other percussion forms, this genre does not allow improvisation because the beats are fixed in advance. The performance unfolds in two distinct stages. The first stage follows Ekataala and is called Ottakkol and Irikida.
In this stage, the Thimila players perform between the first and second beats of the Achan Chenda, which acts as a pendulum. The tempo begins at 32 aksharakaala, then speeds up to 16, 8, and finally 4.
When it reaches 4 aksharakaala, the pattern becomes Irikida: a single beat from the Achan Chenda followed by three beats from the Thimila. The second stage is called Chendakkooru and is based on Triputa taala, with tempos of 28, 14, 7, and 3.5 aksharakaala. Like all other Melams, the piece concludes in Ekataala.
Did You Know?
- It was performed during the 'Prathishta' (placing) and 'Abhisheka' of 'Bramhakalasa' in southern and central Kerala.
- Improvisation (Manodharma) is not applicable in Parisha Vadyam because the beats are pre-set.
More in Indian Musical Groups
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Parisha Vadyam (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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